Service Members, Veterans & Their Families

Vibrating Electronic Mobility Aid

---- PROTOTYPE --------- PURPOSE: To design a prototype of a GPS navigation and hands-free voice control system to be used to steer a guide dog to a selected location by individuals who are blind or have low vision. The G-Navi combines GPS navigation system with a voice input control and a guide dog harness with vibrating-calibration technology to assist in steering a guide dog to any waypoint the user selects. The G-Navi includes a headset into which the user speaks the location to which he or

---- PROTOTYPE --------- PURPOSE: To design a prototype of navigation bracelet for individuals who are blind or have low vision to navigate through a train and/or subway system. The Metro Dot is a bracelet that can be a remote fare card for a public transportation system and an navigation aid that provides information in Braille and through vibration for individuals with visual disabilities. To use the Metro Dot, the user speaks their destination into the bracelet, and then holds the bracelet ad

Miniguide is a vibrating and audible electronic mobility aid designed for use by individuals who are blind, deaf blind, or have low vision. This ultrasonic device detects obstacles from 1.5 to 26 feet away to augment information from other mobility aids, such as a cane or dog guide. Two sensors covered by mesh at the front of the unit send and receive the echo-location signals. A durable plastic casing covers the rest of the unit. The aid vibrates to indicate the distance to objects; the faster

Miniguide US is a vibrating and audible electronic mobility aid designed for use by individuals who are blind or deaf blind or have low vision. This hand-held electronic travel device uses ultrasound to detect objects, and gives tactual or auditory feedback by vibrating or chirping more rapidly as the user approaches an object. The device can help a blind person avoid obstacles and overhangs, locate landmarks or items such as mailboxes or trash cans, and find open paths through crowds at a range

---- PROTOTYPE --------- PURPOSE: To create a prototype of an adapted Kinect sensor to help improve the indoor navigation of individuals with visual disabilities. Engineering students at the University of Konstanz in Germany have developed a prototype to improve indoor navigation for individuals with visual impairment using the Microsoft Kinect camera, a vibrotactile waistbelt, and markers from the AR-Toolkit. Navigational Aids for the Visually Impaired (NAVI), consists of a helmet-mounted Kinec

---- PROTOTYPE --------- PURPOSE: To design a prototype GPS device system for individuals with visual-impairment and/or blindness can use with a guide dog for greater mobility and freedom getting around new and unfamiliar territories. Since guide dogs usually come trained for individuals to use while getting around the local neighborhood, this can be limiting to mobility and independence to individuals with disabilities when exploring new and unfamiliar territories. The Peepo GPS Device gives th

The Step Hear SH-200 Base, model 541016, is an audible and voice output electronic mobility aid designed for use by individuals who are blind or have low vision. Designed to help the visually impaired person navigate in unfamiliar areas, this system is equipped with expandable base units and a wrist-worn activator that begins to vibrate when the user is in range of a base. Pressing a button on the activator triggers a pre-recorded message from the battery operated base unit. An unlimited number

The UBG Ultra Body Guard is a vibrating and voice output electronic mobility aid designed for use by pedestrians who are blind or have low vision. This device detects obstacles at head and upper body level and provides users with tactile or spoken warnings. It also has a compass function to help users orient themselves. It is approximately the size and shape of a cigarette case. WEIGHT: 150 grams.

The UltraCane is a vibrating electronic mobility aid and obstacle detector designed for use by individuals who are blind or have low vision. Designed to help users move around more safely, confidently and effectively, this cane has the shape of a long white cane with a collapsible shaft and a contoured handle, and uses ultrasonic echoes to detect obstacles ahead of the user, including obstacles in the user's path and at head level. It converts this information into vibrating buttons in the handl

The Vibro-Tactile Orientation and Mobility Unit is a voice output and vibrating electronic mobility aid designed for use by pedestrians who are blind or have low vision. This remote receiver works with two voice output and vibrating pedestrian signals, the Relume LED Pedestrian Signal and LED SignalEyes Pedestrian Signal (see separate entries). When the pedestrian signal displays a Walk message, this unit speaks the words "Proceed with caution" and provides a continuous low frequency vibration.

-- PROTOTYPE --------- PURPOSE: To create a prototype of a handheld device that uses sonar-type technology to create a virtual white cane that allows users who are blind or with low vision navigate within their environment. The Virtual Cane is a handheld device that uses a type of sonar to recognize physical objects up to 10 meters (39 feet) from the user. When pointed at an object, it emits invisible focused sound waves and determines how far away the object is. The information is then relayed

-------- PROTOTYPE --------- PURPOSE: To design a prototype of an electronic obstacle detector and navigation aid for individuals who are blind or have low vision. The Visually Impaired Assistant (VIA) is a pair of devices worn on the hands that use video motion detection technology combined with 4 mini cameras to detect obstacles as a person walks. It is intended to be used in place of a white cane. As the one of the VIA devices detects obstacles, it vibrates to warn the user to turn away from